Method for making throw rug



United States Patent 3,484,316 METHOD FOR MAKING THROW RUG Patricia A. Dirrim, P.0. Box 38, Ashley, Ind. 46705 Filed Sept. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 579,595 Int. Cl. B3211 3/02; D04h 11 /08 US. Cl. 15663 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE My invention relates to an improved throw rug or like article and an improved method of making the same, and particularly to such an article and method that can use scrap material.

Throw rugs and like articles are frequently used to cover or decorate a relatively small space. Such rugs and articles preferably have an attractive multicolor design. However, if the design is woven into the rug or like article, such a rug or like article can be relatively expensive, particularly where the design is relatively complex, or where the design has a number of different colors, or where the design is both relatively complex and has a number of different colors.

Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide an improved throw rug or like article which is relatively inexpensive even though the article has a relatively complex but sharply defined design, or has a number of different colors.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved method of making a throw rug or like article from relatively inexpensive pieces of material.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved throw rug or like article and a method of making the same from relatively inexpensive pieces of material that are easily assembled to form a relatively complex and colorful design or pattern.

In todays society, people are enjoying more leisure time. Many such people are using their leisure time to build or construct articles from basic materials. Such individually built or constructed articles might not otherwise be obtainable by a person because of the relatively high cost of the finished article. Hence, the do-ityourself type of construction is the only way in which some articles can be obtained by many people.

Accordingly, another object of my invention is to provide an improved throw rug or like article which can be easily constructed by a person with relative ease and with common home tools and equipment.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved method for making a throw rug or like article, my method being relatively simple so that it can be followed by a person without the need for special knowledge or skill.

Some of the people who construct articles themselves prefer to do so from a kit having the necessary materials and instructions. Such people may not be able to or may not wish to design an article such as a throw rug or the like. Rather, such people prefer to purchase a kit having materials and instructions with which to make a throw rug or like article.

Accordingly, another object of my invention is to provide an article which is adaptable to being supplied in a ice kit having materials and instructions with which to make the article.

Briefly, these and other objects are achieved in accordance with my invention by a throw rug or like article which may be made from relatively small and inexpensive pieces of material that are cut to provide the desired design or pattern and colors. The cut pieces may have relatively complex shapes and isolated cutouts, since they are individually cut. The pieces are assembled into their ultimate pattern or design and turned face down. That is, the side to be viewed is turned over to present the back side. The seams between these pieces may be joined by strips of cloth which are placed over the seams on the back side and held by suitable glue or adhesive. The assembled joined pieces are provided with a backing which preferably has border dimensions greater than the border dimensions of the joined pieces. This backing is preferably a relatively coarse, strong material such as burlap. The backing is joined to the back side of the assembled or joined pieces by suitable glue or adhesive. The excess backing border may be turned several times and sewed to form an edge. This edge may be decorated if desired by suitable ornamentation such as a looped fringe to finish the rug or article. It will thus be seen that the finished article is easily made from relatively inexpensive materials such as scraps. The article can be constructed by an inexperienced person either from a kit or from materials and patterns of his own choosing.

The subject matter which I regard as my invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claim. The structure and operation of my invention, together with further objects and advantages, may be better understood from the following description given in connection wtih the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of a throw rug constructed in accordance with my invention;

FIGURE 2 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the materials forming a part of the throw rug of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of a throw rug 10 constructed in accordance with my invention. The throw rug shown in FIGURE 1 is only one example of an embodiment of my invention, as my invention may be used with or in other articles such as tapestries, furnture covers, and the like. Also, my invention may be used with various sizes of such articles. The design shown on the throw rug 10 includes an eagle with shield and olive branches, and a plurality of stars with a background 12. Other designs may be used, but the design shown has been selected as an example of a relatively complex design which is easily constructed in accordance with my invention. The throw rug 10 also comprises a loop fringe 14 which may be added to the border of the throw rug 10 to finish the rug 10 or enhance its appearance. In this design, the eagle may be of one color, the shield may be of several colors, the olive branches may be of another color, the stars of another color, and the background 12 of still another color. The background 12 may be cut from a single piece or several pieces of material, such as a woven carpet or any desired material. Whether the background or largest piece is cut from one or more pieces depends upon the availability of the selected material. Generally, smaller pieces of material are less expensive, and hence it may be desirable to construct the largest piece, generally the background, from several such pieces. My invention permits this. The background 12 is cut from a piece of material in the desired shape (round in this embodiment), and it is also cut (i.e., provided with openings of the proper size and shape) to accept the eagle, the shield, the olive branches, and the stars. The other pieces, including the eagle, the shield, the olive branches, and stars are also cut from selected materials so that their borders conform with the cutout portions of the background. Generally, I prefer to draw a pattern on paper, place the pattern on the material, and then cut the material from the pattern. This can be done by tracing the pattern on the back side of the material, or by pinning the pattern to the material and cutting by the pattern lines as in dressmaking. The pieces may be cut by an individual, or may be supplied in a kit form which has been previously cut and supplied by a manufacturer.

FIGURE 2 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2--2 in FIGURE 1. This cross-sectional view shows the constructional details of a star 16 in the throw rug 10. As shown in FIGURE 2, the carpet or rug materials forming the background 12 and the star 16 comprise carpet file of the different height and carpet back. Pieces of carpet or like materials are usually available in this form, and as has been pointed out, are generally less expensive when they are smaller or scrap pieces of such material. The star 16 is placed in the proper location with respect to the background 12, and the star 16 may be basted to the background 12 if desired. The borders of the star 16 are then joined to the corresponding borders of the background 12 by a seam strip 18. This seam strip 18 may be any suitable fabric material such as cotton cloth having a dimension or dimensions large enough to cover or overlap the seam between the star 16 and the background 12. The seam strip 18 is fastened to the star 16 and the background 12 by any suitable adhesive, such as an all purpose paper, fabric, and wood glue. This is usually done by placing the background 12 and the star 16 face (here, the pile) down so that the carpet back is accessible or positioned upward. The complete throw rug design of the eagle, the shield, the olive branches, and the other stars is assembled in this fashion with suitably dimensioned seam strips such as the seam strip 18. In some instances, it may be preferred to assemble the design with basting instead of the seam strips and adhesive.

After the design has been completed with the background by suitable seam strips or basting, and after the adhesive between the seam strips and the carpet back has dried, a backing 20 is provided for the throw rug 10. The backing 20 is preferably formed of a relatively heavy and coarse fabric material, such as burlap, which preferably has larger dimensions than the overall dimensions of the throw rug 10. The backing 20 is fastened to the joined design by a suitable adhesive 22 such as an all purpose glue mentioned above. At this stage, the throw rug of my invention comprises individual pieces of cut material which are assembled and joined, and which are then reinforced or supported by a backing 20. FIGURE 3 shows an exploded view of the star 16, the corresponding portion of the background 12, the seam strip 18, and the backing 20. FIGURE 3 shows particularly well how the star 16 can closely fit into the corresponding opening in the background 12, how their borders or seams can be joined by the seam strip 18, and how the backing 20 can be provided for the entire throw rug.

After the throw rug design has been completed and the backing 20 provided, the borders of the backing 20 may be finished in any suitable way. As shown in FIGURE 2, the backing 20 is turned twice and stitched to provide a finished border. This finished border may be further decorated by a loop or tassel fringe 14 which can be looped into the openings in the backing 20. The loop fringe 14 may be desirable from a design or artistic standpoint.

In some instances, depending upon the material being used and the expected wear, the cut pieces which make up the design may be glued directly to the backing. This is preferably done by assembling the cut pieces into the final design, then taking one piece at a time from the assembly (usually from the inside) and applying adhesive to the back, and placing the one piece on the backing. After all pieces are fastened and adhesive is dry, the article can be finished as described above.

It will thus be seen that my invention provides an improved throw rug or like article and an improved method of making such an article. My invention permits such articles to be constructed of relatively inexpensive pieces of material, since the pieces are generally small and only have scrap value. However, my invention permits relatively complex and sharply defined designs to be constructed from various materials, since the pieces of material may be cut by a sharp instrument, such as a razor blade, to form the design. Thus, the design is not woven as in conventional rugs. The cut pieces are easily assembled and held together by seam strips, after which a backing is provided for the completed design. The backing may have a border which is turned and stitched and which may be provided with a suitable decoration such as a fringe. My invention permits almost any design to be incorporated, and may be constructed by an individual, or may be provided in kit form by a manufacturer. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made. For example, the seam strips may be narrower than shown in FIGURE 2, and may be just wide enough to cover or overlap the seam or border between pieces of different material rather than being large enough to cover all of the border of a given design, such as the star 16.

The seam strips may be of various types of material, all

of which may be relatively thin and inexpensive, since they are only needed to hold the design in place until the backing is provided. In some instances, the pieces may be basted together, or may be fastened directly to the backing without previously being joined. The backing may take a number of forms, but I have found that a burlap type of material is preferred. Also, various adhesives may be used, but a generally available, all purpose glue has been found satisfactory.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A method for constructing a throw rug from a plurality of scrap material comprising the steps of:

(a) cutting a plurality of pieces from scrap carpeting having different pile height and coloring in accordance with a predetermined design;

(b) assembling and inserting said out pieces of carpet of said predetermined design together;

(0) seam strip backing said cut pieces of carpet along the seams therebetween;

(d) fastening said out pieces of carpet and seam strip backing to a burlap backing having openings with an adhesive in accordance with said predetermined design; and

(e) placing a border around the rug by looping a number of tassel fringe through the openings in said burlap backing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,082,837 12/1913 Whittall 161-99 XR 1,947,152 2/1934 Clark. 2,012,929 8/1935 Knowland 161-64 XR 2,055,464 9/1936 Bowes 161-67 XR 2,245,202 6/ 1941 Krasno.

. 2,930,729 3/1960 Lea.

ROBERT F. BURNETT, Primary Examiner WILLIAM A. POWELL, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

